Inclusion of chiefs in Gender commission blasted

Director of Matabeleland Constitutional Reform Agenda, Effie Ncube has condemned the inclusion of chiefs in the Gender Commission in the first draft of the new constitution.  
 
In a meeting organised by Bulawayo Agenda to analyse the first draft of the constitution on Monday, Ncube said  Chapter 13 of the draft constitution states that one member of the Gender Commission "must" be nominated by the Council of Chiefs.
 
Ncube felt the inclusion of chiefs would compromise the goals of the Commission as Chiefs have been accused of being aligned to Zanu-PF.
 
 "Chiefs' Council's contribution to the Gender Commission will raise cultural challenges and political dilutions as chiefs are aligned to Zanu-PF. They are bound to oppose modern day initiatives to achieve gender equality citing cultural reasons," said Ncube

The main functions of the Gender Commission shall be to investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender and to recommend affirmative action programs to achieve gender equality.
 
Ncube said the inclusion of Chiefs who are custodians of tradition as part of the gender Commission would create conflicts within the Commission due to differences between the traditional and modem gender practices.